Tag epipen

“I’d like to write a few words about anaphylaxis in the wake of that terrible tragedy before Christmas, where a young girl died on Dublin’s O’Connell Street from a peanut allergy. Doubtless, the City Coroner will assemble all the facts of the case and issue some recommendations with his verdict, but I think it’s high time that the management of children and adults with life-threatening allergies was given the priority it deserves by our public health service. Ireland has probably the worst allergy services in Western Europe. Education is woefully lacking in this area, as are trained specialists. It would also seem like an opportune time to set up a national anaphylaxis clinic that would register and manage patients who are potentially one ingested allergen away from sudden death. This country was able to spend millions placing thousands of never-to-be-used, rusting defibrillators all over the country, yet, when a life-saving adrenaline pen is required, there is none to be found. I don’t know if it’s feasible to put a publically accessible EpiPen in every surgery, pharmacy, school or restaurant in the country, but this awful tragedy reminds us that some serious lessons need to be learned.”

The deaths of two girls in Illinois and Virginia from severe food allergies have helped spur efforts to get schools to stockpile emergency medications that can save lives.

That effort has now reached the highest level: President Barack Obama\’s desk. The president was expected to sign a bipartisan bill that offers a financial incentive to states if schools stockpile epinephrine, considered the first-line treatment for people with severe allergies. The medication is administered by injection, through preloaded EpiPens or similar devices.

Several states have passed or are considering bills that also aim to stock epinephrine in schools, primarily in nurse\’s offices. And late last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued its first guidelines to schools on how to protect kids with food allergies. The guidelines, which are voluntary, ask schools to take steps to restrict common foods that cause allergic reactions and to make epinephrine available.

“Everything is moving in the direction which adheres to our mission, which is to keep kids safe and included in schools,\” said John Lehr, the chief executive officer of the Food Allergy Research and Education advocacy organization.